Jambalaya is dish that originated in the caribbean and it's based on meat, veggies, stock and rice. When we went to Spain our favorite dish was called Paella, which is very similiar to Jambalaya, it was just originated in Spain. It contains meat, veggies, and rice. These dishes are easy to prepare and have a great mix of protein, complex carbs, and colorful vegetables. I make my Jambalaya with extra veggies for extra nutrition, color, and flavor!

ingredients:

Spicy Chicken Sausage (4 links)

Frozen cooked small shrimp (1 package)

1 red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

2 cups mushrooms

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced onions

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 can low-sodium corn (drained)

1 cup rice (stubstitute Quinoa for extra protein and fiber)

cajun seasoning

garlic powder

cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a crockpot and heat for 4-6 hours on medium heat.

I LOVE roasted butternut squash...especially when you add spinach, onions, and dried cranberries. It's the perfect healthy side dish alternative to sweet potato casserole, because you can savor the sweetness without all the fat and calories. PLUS added nutrients with the SPINACH!

Ingredients:

Butternut Squash--chopped into 1inch sqaures (you can now buy them pre-cut if your short on time)

Bag of baby spinach

1 sweet onion- diced

1 cup dried cranberries

1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425*

Place cut Butternut Squash and diced onions on a baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes. (if your short on time, place in a microwave safe dish for 5-10 minutes. Stirring every few minutes to soften the squash). The Squash should be tender when cooked either way.

Cover sweet potatoes in water, bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer till tender (20 minutes). Drain. Peel and discard skin, and mash potatoes in a large bowl. Heat 1/4 cup butter in a large pan on medium high heat. Add onions, celery, salt and pepper. Cook stirring often for about 5 minutes. Add apples, water and spices; continue cooking and stirring for 3-4 minutes. Stir mixture and bread crumbs into sweet potatoes. Adjust seasonings and moisture as needed with broth. Place in sprayed 9X9 baking dish. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes until golden brown.

This soup is so easy to prepare and only has 5 ingredients! You can never say you don't have enough time to cook a meal again!! I like to put all my ingredients in a crock pot for several hours to really let the flavor absorb, but you can definitely put them in a big pot on the stove and just quickly heat up if you're in rush.

Tacos can be a healthy meal, especially when you add in lots of diced peppers, onions, & mushrooms! Opt for Lean Beef...turkey and chicken are also great options. And use whole grain tortillas. I like to add diced cucumbers on top for an extra crunch!

Ingredients:

1lb lean ground beef

1 taco seasoning packet

1/2 cup water

Diced red peppers

Diced green peppers

Diced sweet onion

Diced mushrooms

Whole grain or Whole Wheat Taco Shells

Diced Cucumbers (optional---to put on top of finished taco)

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan on medium heat. (except for taco shells and cucumbers). Let simmer until meat is thoroughly cooked or longer for the meat and veggies to really soak up the flavor.

I am passionate about maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and I make fitness and nutrition an intregal part of my life. I enjoy incorporating all forms of exercise into my routine- focusing on interval training, strenth training, and core stability. For fun I love Turbo Kick, PiYo and walking Crash! I specialize in Pre/Postnatal training and teach Stroller Stride classes for Fit4Mom. I offer in-home training and nutritional counseling. I aspire to motivate people to become aware of their overall wellbeing and to achieve results.